Meeting people on the streets of sweden and the islands of Thailand

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE HOMELESS IN STOCKHOLM? Is it a situation of free choice or not?

We want to know more about the homeless’ situation, so we decided to ask the people themselves. With home-made 'Lussebullar' we visited homeless people in the Metro and Sergels Torg on Friday 20 December 2014 to find out more.

'A homeless person' is someone many people see as a loser. This is only one side of the coin. The other side is a person with a history, which if you take your time to listen, is worthwhile to hear.

Who is not a loser sometimes? Most of us make unwise choices from time to time.

Imagine you loose your loved ones. You become depressed and cannot find your inner strength to go on with your daily routines. After a while you lose your job, your home and your friends. Just imagine.

HELPING OUT AFTER A DISASTERSpending a year helping rebuild infrastructure after the Thai tsunami in 2004

For a year during 2006-2007, Do Good Now worked voluntarily in Thailand. We spent a year with the Swedish microcredit foundation to help rebuild the infrastructure on the islands of Thailand after the tsunami disaster that struck the south Asian coastlines during Christmas 2004.

The Foundation provided microcredit to 250 small business owners and heads of families on Phi Phi Island. They were, for instance, fruit sellers, massage therapists, handicraft vendors and tourist guides with long-tail boats.

After three years, about more than 70% of the microloans were repaid. A very good outcome, considering that it was a disaster, where people were injured for life and died shortly afterwards. The money came from companies in Sweden and Swedish hotel owners in Thailand. Two locals with knowledge of the inhabitants and the culture were employed in the project to facilitate the work.

Low administrative costs

Our experience is that small projects with low costs work best. In a small, direct project, the money can be used for those who are in greatest need. In this case, Phi Phi Island’s habitants already had the know-how, the entrepreneurial skills as well as a wish to rebuild the society’s infrastructure and the island’s business. All they needed was temporary financial support. In these cases, microcredit finance is perfect.

Volunteering in Stockholm

They go out and give out food to the homeless of Stockholm, often on Sundays at 4:30pm.

"Doesn't it feel good when you help someone else? Why not join a group who feels the same way and whose actions reflect those feelings. Maybe getting food from restaurants and giving to street people, or visiting hospitals, or cleaning a littered park or just cleaning your apartment :) We can decide as a group what to do and just do it!"